Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Officially Unscrewed

It has been a long time and a long road since my last post. So many exciting things have happened...just last week I underwent a surgery to remove the four screws which held my hip together the first few months after my PAO - please see the evidence below - they are bigger than they appear! :)


I was just as anxious about this surgery as I was the first one - new surgeon, new risks - but it went well. Dr. Tim Schrader is an amazing guy (thanks Lauren for the recommendation) and he preformed the surgery in under an hour and a half and without complications. My surgery was on a Wednesday and by Friday morning I was without crutches. After such a great start I thought I would be skipping by now - it hasn't exactly worked out like that.

My pain has reduced, but I still have limited movement and LOT'S of snapping and crackling - feeling yet again like a breakfast cereal. I get fatigued very quickly - in fact just walking through the grocery store yesterday left my right side feeling like I'd be hit by a truck.

Our hope with this surgery was to determine if the pinching pain was caused by the screws slowly working their way out - or possibly the muscles and ligaments getting caught on them and causing more damage. If the pain continues I will be back in for more MRI's and tests to see what the issues are.

I'll keep you all posted on the progression - thanks for tuning in!

7 comments:

Jen said...

It's great to see that next milestone! I hope you're doing well. Any plans to do your other leg? Dr. Schrader is the best!
Jen

Greg Gilbert said...

Glad to hear you got those screws out! I am sure over time all will work itself out.

Good luck.
Greg G

Anonymous said...

Hi Sam
I'm sorry I didn't know before now that you had your screws out. Anything new to report? I hope you are feeling better now that it is a month since your last post. Please let me know how you are doing.
Lauren

MY PAO STORY said...

congrats on the screw removal!! I was sooooo happy to get mine out....I always bumped the handle to the shopping cart at Publix on them!!!
Hope all is well :)

Louisa B said...

HI there wish I'd found this earlier!
Louisa

Anonymous said...

What a great resource!

Kim Dukes said...

I was wondering how things are going now?
I am 32 and have never really had anything done to my hip dyslpasia. I finally have state insurance and am going to a specialist in Feb of 2011 to hopefully start the process. back in 2000, my doc at the time said I needed intertrochanteric osteotomies on both hips/femors. He said 6months in a half body cast. I am hoping things have improved for me since then.
I am in soo much pain now and my legs give out a lot on me.

How is your pain level this far out?